About NPR.

[Skidmore]

I've seen a bit of grousing on DU about NPR lately. Our nearest NPR had a bit on about the 7% of its budget that will be missing if Congress defunds it. I would strongly encourage everyone to stand up against defunding or, should it occur, donate to them.

In the hinterlands, it is often the only station not owned by Clear Channel or carries something other than RW BS or plays this crap they try to pass of as country now. Where else will we hear classical, folk, ethnic, or classics from many genres? Who can allow us to lose the wonderfully insightful interviews of Terry Gross? Where else could we find books or poetry read to us while we travel past the fields to work or school? Who will take time out to collect the stories of the centenarians or the peoples from the byways of the nation? Where else could we hear a true cross section of called in opinion on a wide rage of topics and in discussion with some of the great thinkers of our time? And how can we lose our Friday afternoons full of science and tech talk or the humor of Saturday mornings?

What other media is there which puts forward a reasonable reflection of this nation, its history, and the issues of our time? We cannot afford to lose NPR. I encourage you to lend political support or donate to hold onto one of the last truly inclusive communications outlets to the masses of greater America.

[WheelWalker]

1. Kick

[BonnieJW]

2. Thanks for this.

I donated as soon as I heard defunding was being considered. I wake up to NPR every morning.

[FSogol]

3. K & R. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Skidmore.

[Mojeoux]

5. SAVE NPR!!!

Save it!!

[hlthe2b]

6. So many of us have become "all or nothing" in our attitudes...

NPR is but one example. As disappointed as I was after the loss of KO, it would seem some thought that reason sufficient to write off all of MSNBC, even if that meant the loss of Rachel Maddow, as one example.

I don't get that thought process. NPR's inclusion of so many neocons and other despicable RW talking heads and failure to delve deeply into the spin, the past many years-- that has pissed me off too. But, there remains some very good reporting and programming on the station. It has always been my opinion that we need to pressure NPR into returning to its more consistent roots, rather than throwing out the baby with the bathwater. If we take a major hit with NPR, potentially lose progressive reporting on MSNBC--what is left, in terms of MSM?

Just as I can see areas of agreement--despite many areas of disappointment--with our current President and his administration.... Life is like that... absolutism really doesn't get us very far. At least in my humble opinion.

[Enthusiast]

18. Let me explain my anger for you.

For many years NPR was the most trusted source of unbiased news and information. That all changed.

After NRP changed right wing propagandists used that trusted NPR brand to sew their misinformation. This is enough to anger anyone. I'm sick to death of right wing media dominance. This media monopoly is the single greatest reason for recent right wing success at taking over the nation and making a mess of it.

That said, there is no reason why NPR can't return to its unbiased status once government subsidies are removed. We will just have to support it. We will have to step up.

[hlthe2b]

19. Who said I wasn't angry?

NPR on its worst day remains the most vital and useful ready source of news for rural communities. Defund it and Clear Channel RW talk will be all that can be accessed. How, pray tell, does that help diminish RW media dominance and bias?

[Enthusiast]

20. I didn't mean to imply that you weren't angry.

I share your concern.

[Tesha]

7. I'm sorry but NPR is only slightly better than Fox.

Oh sure, they cloak their bias in high-minded sounds and
attitudes, but if you pay attention to what they're actually
saying, they:

o Give about twice the airtime to the Republican/Right
viewpoint as they do to the Democratic/Left viewpoint.

o Often use actual audio quotes for the R/R spokesperson
whereas they "tell you" what the D/L "said".

o They still give the far-Right point of view plenty of
airtime but they haven't given the far-left point of view
any airtime on a news program (No, "Wait, Wait" doesn't
count) for a decade or more.

They tried appeasment and the Republicans still want
them dead; I say let them die. And our local PBS outlet
that our State Republicans just defunded can die right
along with them. Alternatively, NPR and PBS can
recognize which side of the listener aisle actually
contributes to them and remove the Republican/Right
tilt from their programming. They don't have to become
Pacifica with its overt Left bias, but they damned-well
have to stop kissing Republican ass before I consider
returning to the breath and depth of donating that I
used to do.

Tesha

[Vinnie From Indy]

8. "They tries appeasment "

Well I reckon they should tries sumpin' else.

Cheers!
:)

[Tesha]

9. That typo didn't last as long as you took composing your reply. (NT)

[Vinnie From Indy]

10. REC - REC - REC - REC

Support NPR!

Cheers!

[MadHound]

11. That might, remember, might, be true of their morning and afternoon news shows,

However there is the other eighteen hours of the day to consider. I enjoy my local NPR station for its line up of classical and jazz, something I couldn't find on any other station. I also find that other news programs are actually quite liberal.

Using only a couple of programs to define a whole week's worth of programming is simply painting with a broad brush.

[Tesha]

13. Your local "NPR" station isn't carrying NPR programs when they're doing locally-produced music...

...programs and the etc.

Unfortunately, "money is fungible" so even if you made
a gift and specified that not one dime of your donation
goes to their NPR dues, they'd simply replace your
missing dimes with more of other people's dimes.

Very fee of the NPR-produced news programming isn't
tinged red. "On the Media" might be the only example I
can think of; can you name another?

And the showpieces of all NPR affiliates are the awfully-
tinged "Morning Edition" and "ATC" and these occupy a
big block of any affiliate's broadcast day.

Tesha

[renate]

14. I wonder whether their coverage would change if they lost that 7%

They have to suck up to the right--who are rarely satisfied with anything less than abject fealty--in order to keep that funding so I bet those proportions that you mention would change to something more closely approaching 50-50 if they lost that 7%. It might not be such a terrible thing, since most of their listeners are centrist to left-leaning, and they might contribute more if NPR's news coverage were more balanced--although I do still hope they don't lose that money.

[Tesha]

15. That's my "garden theory"!

The Right is *NEVER* satisfied. No matter how
far you move in their direction to accommodate
them, they simply take three steps farther backward
and keep right on complaining! Eventually, that gets
them a huge coterie of fools who don't understand how
negotiation works.

Obama has been falling victim to this since he was
inaugurated and NPR and PBS have been falling victim
to it since at least about 1994. "Okay, we've done
what you asked; do you like us now?" "No! Now you
must bring me a shrubbery!"

I think losing their government funding will, in
fact free them. Some NPR and PBS stations in Red
areas will fail and close, of course, but many
may prosper once they can return to a truly
balanced point-of-view.

Tesha


Tesha

[MedicalAdmin]

17. It doesn't pay to compromise with someone...

... whose goal in life is to gut you like a trout.

[Sal Minella]

12. I already donate more to NPR than I can afford, but if Congress

stops their pathetic little dribble of financial support for public broadcasting, I will double my monthly contribution to NPR.

[yellowwood]

16. You Are So Right

Democrats who criticize NPR just haven't been listening. Terry Gross and Diane Rehm. Science Friday. Talk of the Nation. Music.

I like everything except "Cartalk," and I object to recent attempts to "lighten up" by talking about commercial sports. But I don't rule the world.

Among the people I respect, I often hear "I heard it on NPR."

I especially appreciate in-depth coverage of issues that are just soundbites on MSM.

It is really the only medium I trust. I expect balance, and I believe that I find it there.

Go, NPR!